TFN wraps up first legislature

 

Chief Kim Baird elated at what's been accomplished after starting from scratch in a post-treaty world

 
By Sandor Gyarmati, The Delta Optimist May 2, 2012
 
 
 
Tony Jacobs was speaker of the TFN's last legislative assembly. Holding fall and spring sessions, the legislature was the TFN's first in its post-treaty era.
 

Tony Jacobs was speaker of the TFN's last legislative assembly. Holding fall and spring sessions, the legislature was the TFN's first in its post-treaty era.

Photograph by: file photo , Delta Optimist

The first full cycle of the Tsawwassen First Nation's self-government has been a highly productive one, but there's still much to be done.

In an interview with the Optimist, TFN Chief Kim Baird expressed elation with the job done by her First Nation's first post-treaty legislature, which has been operating under the unfamiliar territory of self-governance.

"It's been daunting because we've had to create brand new policies and procedures for a brand new governance structure. Now that we're working our way through it, we have an annual reporting cycle that we're constantly refining as well, but at least now we're getting to the point where we're refining things," Baird said.

The TFN legislative assembly held a series of meetings at the First Nation's recreation centre as well as the longhouse.

The final spring session wrapped up March 15.

The next gathering of the legislature will feature a newly elected government. Nominations will take place in June and the election for council and chief will be held in September.

The Tsawwassen First Nation's treaty, the first negotiated under the B.C. Treaty Commission process, legally took effect on April 3, 2009.

It gives the TFN the constitutional authority to make laws and set its own course, leaving the much-maligned Indian Act as nothing more than a bleak memory.

Laws are passed by the Tsawwassen legislature, the highest governing body of the TFN. Regulations are passed by the executive council, a smaller group made up of members of the legislature.

"The treaty and related agreements present Tsawwassen First Nation with modern governance tools, coupled with funds, to generate increased economic vitality. It makes Tsawwassen First Nation an equal partner in government-to-government relationships with Canada and British Columbia, and provides for strong and workable interactions with these partners," according to the B.C. Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

Since the treaty came into effect, the Tsawwassen government has passed about two dozen acts ranging from the Tsawwassen Constitution Act and Judicial Proceedings Act to the Children and Families Act and Economic Development Act.

Baird said they are still busy working on new policies.

"We still have a ton of policies to get through. Our policy guys have a list of two dozen policy subjects that they want to work on at any given time... So we just have to make sure we're patient and do quality work on everything we're working on."

Since the treaty came into effect, the TFN has also been busy mapping an economic development course.

After approving a land use plan, the First Nation is moving forward with a major housing development as well as two huge shopping centres, which will change the retail landscape of the Lower Mainland. The TFN has also been developing its industrial land, working with Port Metro Vancouver, which is keenly interested in the potential opportunities.

The TFN is inviting its members to take part in a two-day consultation workshop at UBC this June to discuss their evolving future. Some of the topics to be covered include the five-year strategic plan, treaty distributions and the proposed waste-to-energy project.

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

© Copyright (c) Delta Optimist
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Tony Jacobs was speaker of the TFN's last legislative assembly. Holding fall and spring sessions, the legislature was the TFN's first in its post-treaty era.
 

Tony Jacobs was speaker of the TFN's last legislative assembly. Holding fall and spring sessions, the legislature was the TFN's first in its post-treaty era.

Photograph by: file photo , Delta Optimist

 
Tony Jacobs was speaker of the TFN's last legislative assembly. Holding fall and spring sessions, the legislature was the TFN's first in its post-treaty era.
TFN chief Kim Baird helped negotiate an historic treaty for her First Nation. The treaty gives the TFN 724 hectares of land, doubling the reserve's land base, along with nearly $32 million in cash and one-time funding, as well as a portion of the commercial salmon fishery.
Premier Gordon Campbell and Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Kim Baird in April 2009 celebrate the Tsawwassen First Nation Treaty effective date. It's the first urban treaty in the history of BC and the first modern treaty negotiated under the British Columbia Treaty Commission process.
April 2009 was another historic first when the Tsawwassen First Nation assumed its seat as a member of the Metro Vancouver Board of directors It's the first time a First Nation joined the regional district as a full member. Chief Kim Baird, who spent years negotiating the first urban treaty signed in B.C., represented the band. Andrew Bak was the first alternate. When the TFN's treaty came into effect that year, the TFN also became a member of the regional district.
BC Conservative leader John Cummins was opposed to provisions in the TFN treaty when he was MP for Delta-Richmond East. In addition to voicing concerns about issues including the fishery, Cummins noted that when Tsawwassen band members eventually pay income taxes, the money will be paid to the Tsawwassen government to fund its own activities and not to the federal government to pay for federal programs and services.
In 2004, the Vancouver Port Authority and the TFN signed a $47-million agreement that actively involves the TFN in the expansion of the superport at Roberts Bank. Last summer a new industrial park was launched by the First Nation near Deltaport, marking TFN's first major economic initiative after it was established as BC's first urban Treaty First Nation. The park, called the Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre, marks the beginning of the implementation of TFN's development plans for its industrial lands. The Logistics Centre is located adjacent to Deltaport and abuts major rail lines and highways.
TFN elder Ruth Adams and Richard Cook, a planner hired by the First Nation, were on hand for an open house earlier this year to explain the residential component of the TFN's new land use plan. Half of the homes will be single-family detached while the other half comprises apartments and townhomes. The plan includes 1,864 residential units, as well as a village centre and an elementary school. It's estimated to bring a population of 4,381 people to the area.
The TFN Economic Development Corporation last year announced it entered into a memorandum of agreement with a pair of development companies to build 1.8 million square feet of shopping and office space. Deals were reached with Ivanhoe Cambridge and the Property Development According to TFN Economic Development Corporation CEO Chris Hartman, Ivanhoe Cambridge's part of the project would comprise 1.2 million square feet as a destination retail and entertainment centre. Named Tsawwassen Mills, it would follow the model of CrossIron Mills, north of Calgary, and Vaughan Mills, north of Toronto. CrossIron Mills has over 200 stores, including Winners, H&M and Sport Chek, as well as movie theatres and restaurants. Property Development Group will develop further outdoor retail space.
The Tsawwassen First Nation this year supported an historic resolution at the First Nations Health Council for First Nations in BC to assume greater control and decision-making over their health and wellness. The resolution would make BC First Nations the first in Canada to take over health service delivery from the federal government. The resolution also provides the First Nations Health Council a strong mandate to work with the province and health authorities.
Pictured is a TFN ceremony which took place earlier this year, where a Coast Salish name was given for Ecole du Bois-Joli school. The name received was q__la_q__l', translating to "little ones are speaking."
The Asia Pacific Gateway and Deltaport are key growth opportunities for the TFN's new Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre, says chief Kim Baird.
Delta South could have a new name that recognizes the emergence of a native self-government During the opening of the Tsawwassen First Nation's legislative assembly last year, a proposal came forward from Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington that the riding's new name could be TFN-Delta South. Her suggestion was endorsed by Chief Kim Baird, whose motion to request a name change to the province's chief electoral officer was approved by her legislators
On hand at the grand opening of the new 41B Street overpass (from left) were Mayor Lois Jackson, MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, International Trade Minister Ed Fast, TFN chief Kim Baird, BC Agriculture Minister Don McRae, Delta Farmers' Institute president John Savage and Port Metro Vancouver CEO Robin Silvester. Baird said the overpass will be a critical link for traffic from the new Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre.
Delta council is asking the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to confirm what improvements will be made to the provincial highway network, specifically Highway 17 and the George Massey Tunnel, in consideration of the future development of Tsawwassen First Nation Land, to facilitate the efficient and timely movement of traffic to and from South Delta.
Chief Kim Baird says there's a $340-million assessed value on the TFN's 724-hectares of land. The band's treaty doubled the size of the reserve. It also took 200 hectares of farmland out of the Agricultural Land Reserve, enabling it to be used for commercial and industrial development.
In an interview last year, former Tsawwassen Business Association president Michael Anderson said Delta businesses, for the most part, should make out fine in the face of the huge mall development at the TFN.
Mary Polak, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, was a guest speaker at the opening of the fifth session of the TFN's legislative Assembly in November. She said the challenges the First Nation faces are similar to problems of other municipal governments.
Chief Kim Baird was one of several named to BC's newly formed Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women. According the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, the council will provide advice on how to improve the quality of life for aboriginal women in BC.
The TFN says it had a record number of post secondary applicants, which bodes well for the future viability of the community.
The Tsawwassen legislature unanimously approved a motion, to examine strategies to reduce and remove the use of certain incorrect and potentially offensive terms in reference to Tsawwassen First Nation. Terms specifically referenced in the motion included "Indian band" and "reserve." The TFN wants to be referred to as a "First Nation."
Aquilini Renewable Energy, owned by Vancouver Canuck's owner Francesco Aquilini, is part of the privately-held Aquilini Investment Group that's been working with the TFN on building a waste-to-energy plant. The First Nation's industrial master plan has 30 acres designated as "energy park" with the idea of building a waste-to-energy facility. Metro Vancouver and the province will decide where the new garbage incinerator will be built.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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